Iron Maiden - Dance of Death

Not everything I write on this blog is insightful. Often, I write entire posts where all I do is state the obvious. Like “Stairway to Heaven” is the greatest classic rock song ever; or “Screaming for Vengeance” and “Defenders of the Faith” are Judas Priest’s best albums; or Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana” is highly influential and important. I am hardly performing any sort of great service writing such essays, but this is just a hobby and writing exercise for me, so I write about what I like, and sometimes my opinion does not differ very far from the general consensus. Sometimes I posses no additional information outside of the sphere of general knowledge.

Not today.

Today I have an opinion I wish to express that I am confident is in the extreme minority. I hold that, Iron Maiden’s “Dance of Death” is one of Maiden’s best albums.

Now I am not insane; I acknowledge the reality that “Number of the Beast” is by far Iron Maiden’s best album. Furthermore, I acknowledge that “Powerslave” is often considered an appropriate nomination for best Maiden album. I hold both of these albums in higher regard than “Dance of Death,” and I firmly stand in the “Number of Beast” camp regarding the debate for greatest Maiden album. I also really love “Somewhere in Time,” that is a favorite of mine, and I really should get around and picking up a copy of “Piece of Mind” one of these days, but honestly, reflecting on my own weird subjective tastes, and now that I am putting myself to the test to decide my own feelings on the matter, I think I rank “Dance of Death” third, after “Number of the Beast” and “Powerslave.”

No one is going to agree with me on this.

“Dance of Death” was released in 2003 and is the album that follows “Brave New World.” Thus, this is the second album in the second era of Iron Maiden being fronted by Bruce Dickinson.

In the previous Music In Review, I wrote at length about the power, importance, and longevity of Bruce Dickinson’s singing voice, and his involvement in Iron Maiden. But as I now discuss my love for “Dance of Death” I would like focus on the guitars of Iron Maiden. While Bruce is awesome on this album, it is the four string instruments and what they do that makes me love “Dance of Death” so much.

As discussed previously, Dickinson’s return to Iron Maiden was a big deal. However, I am more charmed by the story of the return of guitarist Adrian Smith.

Smith had been troubled by his lack of involvement in the creative process in Iron Maiden, so he started to look outside of the band to explore his imagination. In 1990 Smith released the Adrian Smith And Project (ASAP) album “Silver and Gold.” It did badly. That same year Smith would decide to leave Iron Maiden, where he was replaced by Janick Gers.

So the years go by, Janick kicks some butt and Smith is struggling. Smith and Dickinson were always good friends, so when one decided to go so did the other, and that put Steve Harris, the leader of Iron Maiden, with a interesting decision to make. Does he deny the return of Smith because they no long need him now that they have Gers? Or does he let Smith replace Gers? But Harris is smarter than that, he sees the idea of only having two guitarists is a false dichotomy. Harris made the right decision; Iron Maiden would have three guitarists going forward.

Steve Harris is a freaking genius.

What I think is so charming about the return of Adrian Smith to Iron Maiden, was that everyone wins. It was like Iron Maiden went from five friends working together to six. There was no need for rivalry between guitarist, with more guitarist, Iron Maiden could kick more ass.

“Brave New World” has some really great solos, intros and bridges with the three guitarist working together, but “Dance of Death” is a next level. Of all the Iron Maiden albums that exists, I believe “Dance of Death” is the most guitar focused. It could also be said that “Dance of Death” is the most acoustic album Iron Maiden has ever produced, which I suspect goes a long way to explain some fans disillusionment with the album. Metal fans are not also happy when artist mellow or soften, but I am little different, I like the contrast of soft openings to heavy climaxes; and there is a lot of that in “Dance of Death.” The title track “Dance of Death” does this very nicely.

Opening with a rhythm guitar, which is soon joined with Harris’s bass, then a very different chord set performs the intro, and then departs for Dickinson to come in and sing the first verse. Bass and rhythm march forward while the other two guitars filled the entering and retreating notes of the harmony. Sure enough, everything intensifies as we go deeper into the song, just as the story darkens.

Once Dickinson pronounces these words, hell unleashes:

“And I danced and I pranced and I sang with them,
All had death in their eyes.
Lifeless figures they were undead all of them,
They had ascended from hell.”

Then, one of the guitarist, I do not know which one, breaks into this electric lead melody that juggernauts throughout the rest of the song, until the mellow outro, which brings us back to continuity.

This is very layered song, and it appealed to my upon my first listening, that this would become one of my favorite Iron Maiden songs. I just love guitar, and the charm of later days Maiden is that they have three, and what might be their best collaboration maybe “Dance of Death.” This is a big claim, and no one is going to agree with me, and since I am posting this on the internet, I anticipate a lot of balanced counter arguments accompanied by some harsh negativity, some of it probably deserved.

There are so many words in “Dance of Death” and yet no chorus. Remember that old complaint that some say that Dickinson repeats this single sentence chorus without imagination, well “Dance of Death” certainly showcases an opposite side to things. There are fourteen verses in all.

The song “Dance of Death” reads like an old prophetic poem, not unlike Dante, and this accidently demonic discovery, reminds me a lot of “Number of the Beast.” I sometimes wonder if “Dance of Death” is a deliberate return to form for Iron Maiden, at least in theme, to that iconic album and song. Whether or not, similar inspiration are awakened in me when listening to either.

On a final note, I really like the end of the album “Dance of Death.” The final two tracks “Age of Innocence” and “Journeyman” play somewhat similar to “Dance of Death” insofar, that softer acoustic guitars brings us in gently and the centre of the song is a soaring climax. All three songs are lengthy and have a sense of long journeying discovery, mixed with anxious danger. Yeah, good times.

In the unlikely event someone agrees with me that “Dance of Death” is one of Maiden’s best albums, I sure hope they comment.

Until next month, keep on rocking in the free world.

- King of Braves